Mr. Friscus
Diamond Member
- Dec 28, 2020
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We've long known that the NBA All-Star game is joke.. it's a lay-up line and 3-point fest with no defense. Nobody cares, it's a joke in the sports community. The long asked question is.. How do we get these guys playing hard again?
Well, here it is.
Let's return to divisions in basketball. They've become largely meaningless in today's NBA as we only focus on which 8 teams are the best in the East or West to make up the playoffs. There are technically 3 divisions in each conference. Let's review them:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Atlantic Division: Celtics, Knicks, 76ers, Nets, Raptors
2. Central Division: Cavs, Pacers, bucks, Pistons, Bulls
3. Southeast Division: Magic, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Wizards
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Northwest Division: Thunder, Nuggets, Wolves, Blazers, Jazz
2. Pacific Division: Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Warrioers, Suns
3. Southwest Division: Grizzlies, Rockets, Mavs, Spurs, Pelicans
Since divisions are largely meaningless, and we want to make the All-Star game better, We consolidate the 3 divisions into 2. So, here's a theoretical set up (add your own division names as you please)
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
1. DIVISION 1: Celts, Knicks, 76ers, Nets, Raptors, Wizards, Cavs
2. DIVISION 2: Magic, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Bulls, Pistons, Bucks, Pacers
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1. DIVISION 1: Mavs, Rockets, Nuggets, Thunder, Wolves, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Spurs
2. DIVISION 2: Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, Blazers, Kings, Suns, Jazz
The deal is, You take All-Stars from the Eastern Conference Division 1 (ECD1) and Western Conference Division 1 (WCD1) and make a team. Then, you take ECD2 and combine with WCD2.
With the criss-cross, you put a regular season game on the line, an added, unplayed 83rd game. All teams of the divisions that win get a +1, all teams of the divisions that lose get a -1. That way, All-Stars who are playing have a motiviation to help their team get an extra win in the standings, and even if a team had no All-Star, they will either benefit or have loss from genuine competition. You could even bring back the "every team must have a representative" rule.
However, this would make it shameful to not care about playing hard in the All-Star game, as if an All-Star hot dogged and BS'd causing a loss, their teammates would be mad that their team sufferred because of it.
Boom. Problem solved. Of course, that would take some time. So my ideas for the next few years?
1. America vs. the World
2. Play a vintage game without a 3 point line.
3. Play outdoors at Rucker Park.
As for other ideas:
1. In the 3 point contest, have 8 contestants. 6 current players and 2 retired legends (Reggie Miller, Steve Kerr, Ray Allen, etc.)
2. Have a PIG competition
3. Have a 1-on-1 competition voted by the fans. Make Lebron and KD line up, and see if they both agree to not care or if it becomes competitive.
Well, here it is.
Let's return to divisions in basketball. They've become largely meaningless in today's NBA as we only focus on which 8 teams are the best in the East or West to make up the playoffs. There are technically 3 divisions in each conference. Let's review them:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Atlantic Division: Celtics, Knicks, 76ers, Nets, Raptors
2. Central Division: Cavs, Pacers, bucks, Pistons, Bulls
3. Southeast Division: Magic, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Wizards
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Northwest Division: Thunder, Nuggets, Wolves, Blazers, Jazz
2. Pacific Division: Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Warrioers, Suns
3. Southwest Division: Grizzlies, Rockets, Mavs, Spurs, Pelicans
Since divisions are largely meaningless, and we want to make the All-Star game better, We consolidate the 3 divisions into 2. So, here's a theoretical set up (add your own division names as you please)
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
1. DIVISION 1: Celts, Knicks, 76ers, Nets, Raptors, Wizards, Cavs
2. DIVISION 2: Magic, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Bulls, Pistons, Bucks, Pacers
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1. DIVISION 1: Mavs, Rockets, Nuggets, Thunder, Wolves, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Spurs
2. DIVISION 2: Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, Blazers, Kings, Suns, Jazz
The deal is, You take All-Stars from the Eastern Conference Division 1 (ECD1) and Western Conference Division 1 (WCD1) and make a team. Then, you take ECD2 and combine with WCD2.
With the criss-cross, you put a regular season game on the line, an added, unplayed 83rd game. All teams of the divisions that win get a +1, all teams of the divisions that lose get a -1. That way, All-Stars who are playing have a motiviation to help their team get an extra win in the standings, and even if a team had no All-Star, they will either benefit or have loss from genuine competition. You could even bring back the "every team must have a representative" rule.
However, this would make it shameful to not care about playing hard in the All-Star game, as if an All-Star hot dogged and BS'd causing a loss, their teammates would be mad that their team sufferred because of it.
Boom. Problem solved. Of course, that would take some time. So my ideas for the next few years?
1. America vs. the World
2. Play a vintage game without a 3 point line.
3. Play outdoors at Rucker Park.
As for other ideas:
1. In the 3 point contest, have 8 contestants. 6 current players and 2 retired legends (Reggie Miller, Steve Kerr, Ray Allen, etc.)
2. Have a PIG competition
3. Have a 1-on-1 competition voted by the fans. Make Lebron and KD line up, and see if they both agree to not care or if it becomes competitive.
